Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has suggested that former Real Madrid player Mesut Ozil may yet have a role to play for the Gunners and has opened the door for the German playmaker to return to the squad in January.
The former Germany international has been put on ice by the Spaniard who has totally left him out of his plans since March and has not involved him in either of the Gunners’ squads for the Premier League or the Europa League.
Ozil’s deal runs out at the end of the season and his Arsenal career seemd to have come to a premature demise but there now seems to be a new twist to his situation.
“He’s not in the squad right now,” Arteta told the press on Saturday ahead of their ill-fated Premier League meeting with Burnley on Sunday. “I’m focusing just on the players we have here.
“But, whatever happens in January, we have some time to decide.”
Former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger recently spoke out in defence of Ozil, claiming he is not a character difficult to manage.
“He was not difficult to manage. He was a guy who had a special quality as a creative player and needed to have fun,” the legendary former Arsenal boss told ESPN.
“He is an artist and these guys are a bit more sensitive.
“They need support and an environment that pushes them to give their best.”
Wenger offered Arteta some advice to get the best out of Ozil.
“You have two ways to see a football team. You get everybody to do the same. The same intensity of work, the same defensive work or you find a compromise,” he added.
“You have a more creative player in the team who can do less defensive work but you build a team around him who can compensate for these deficiencies.
“That is what you have to think about.”